The Kansas Supreme Court ordered Secretary of State Kris Kobach to remove Chad Taylor from the U.S. Senate ballot Thursday, according to the Kansas City Star. The Court declared Taylor was able to withdraw by state law. Kobach previously stated removing Taylor’s name would be against the law, as he was not deemed unable to fulfill duties if elected.

Many Republicans, including Republican candidate Pat Roberts, previouly wanted to keep Taylor’s name on the ballot simply to split votes with Independent candidate Greg Orman. Now, the Kansas City Star predicts that many of Taylor’s votes will go to Orman. Roberts is attempting to label Orman as a de factoDemocrat to possibly draw in more votes, because no Democrat has been elected to the State Senate since the Depression.

Veterinarian warns pet owners about highly toxic rat poison

Every year, the Kansas State University’s Veterinary Health Center sees dogs coming in with poisoning, according to Susan Nelson, clinical associate professor of clinical sciences, in a press release Thursday.

Dogs can ingest the poison by eating the poison directly or eating dead mice or rats that had ingested the poison, so Nelson advises pet owners to be wary of what rat poison to buy. Poisons like second-generation anticoagulant, a blood thinner and bromethalin, which causes brain swelling, can be extremely dangerous to dogs and children if ingested. Nelson said owners should check rodenticides’ labels to see if the poison is child-proof or pet proof to avoid accidental ingestion.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently ordered the discontinuation of many mouse and rat control products made by the company d-CON because they did not meet safety standards. However, many of these products will be available until March 31, 2015, according to the release.

NBAF to receive last portion of funding

According to the Kansas City Business Journal, The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, the central utility plant being 60 percent complete at this time, is coming to the final leg in funding the $1.25 billion dollar project.

Ron Trewyn, Kansas State University NBAF’s liaison, said the project may be slow moving but the final $300 million is on it’s way from Congress.

The NBAF will be an animal health biosafety level-two facility focused on doing research for pharmaceutical companies. At this point, the first part of construction is done, the second ongoing and the third and final portion of construction is awaiting the funding.

Fort Riley solider sentenced for fraud

A Fort Riley solider was sentenced to six months jail time, six months home confinement and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to making false statements to the Social Security Administration, according to the Little Apple Post.

James Scott Nickerson, 38, of Fort Riley pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal agency.

Nickerson applied for disability benefits in 2009 under the Wounded Warrior program, saying he was unable to work due to “organic mental disorders” even though he worked full time for the Army during this time. Nickerson claims to have received $71,734 from the administration, which will be paid back, including $250 to the United States Treasury for a stimulus payment he received but was not entitled to.